Using as little energy as possible, Franklin posted the fifth-fastest time in morning preliminaries at 1 minute, 56.90 seconds. She'll return for the semifinals in the evening, along with the 100 backstroke final.
Camille Muffat of France was top qualifier in the 200 free at 1:56.53. She won silver in the event at last year's Olympics.
Tyler Clary of the United States led the 200 butterfly in 1:56.03, followed by Olympic champion Chad le Clos of South Africa. Another South African star, Cameron van der Burgh, topped the prelims for the 50 breaststroke, a non-Olympic event.